The Mosaic of Empires

A master mosaicist holds the fate of an empire in his hands—and every faction wants to guide his brush. When Alexios Lascaris is commissioned to create a monumental mosaic encoding the Empress's choice of heir, he becomes the most dangerous man in Chrysopolis. Sequestered under guard, courted by spies and zealots, Alexios must navigate a labyrinth of intrigue where one misplaced tessera could ignite a civil war—or reshape civilization forever.